The expression of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans after focal cerebral infarction in hypertensive rats / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To examine the expression of inhibitory chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) and in-vestigate their potential effects on neural plasticity in the peri-infarct cortex and ipsilateral thalamus after focal cerebral infarction in hypertensive rats. Methods Twenty-four adult renovascular hypertensive Sprague-Dawley rats per group were subjected to permanent right middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) or sham operation. Twelve rats which were se-lected randomly from per group at each time point were decapitated and their brains were removed and cut into coronal sections at 7 and 14 days post MCAO. The expression of CSPGs, NG2 and Neurocan was examined using immunostaining and western blot. Results All rats displayed neurological deficits to varying degrees and the expression of CSPGs, NG2 and full length Neurocan was increased in the peri-infarct cortex and ipsilateral thalamus at 7 and 14 days (P0.05). Conclusions CSPGs may play a negative role in neural plasticity through induction of inhibitory environment in the peri-infarct cortex and ipsilat-eral thalamus following focal cerebral infarction in hypertensive rats.